BITE OF THE DAY - 9/17/2008 - The Sausage Sandwich at Lucy's Palace at the Feast of San Gennaro

For someone like me, whose life spirals uncontrollably on an axis of food, September is a month of deep mourning. As schools resume, daylight becomes more scarce, and bathing suits are reluctantly packed away for another 9 months, most of us battle the impending depression that comes with cold weather, the flu, and commuting in the dark. As the Ubereater however, the coming and going of Labor Day brings about much bigger issues: the end of Sausage Sandwich Season. And so in a final act of desperation, as an ultimate attempt at reconciliation, the month of September is so kind as to offer us encased meat enthusiasts one last shot at sausage salvation.

This brings us to today's Bite of the Day; The Sausage & Peppers Sandwich from Lucy's Palace at the Feast of San Gennaro.

Now in its 81st year of operation, Little Italy's annual street fair dedicated to honoring the Patron Saint of Naples, a waxy looking fellow by the name of Gennaro, is one of New York's oldest, most popular events.

More than a 1 million people descend upon Mulberry Street each year for 10 days in September to pay respect to San Gennaro, and of course eat. I bet you already knew I'm one of them.

I've tried every interpretation you can get your hands on at the Feast, and hands downs, Lucy's Palace at the south end of Mulberry, blows everything else away. (below)

This sandwich is so good, eating it is way beyond enjoyable, it's nerve wracking. Why? Because this is true perfection on all fronts. Unlike most impish attempts at a sausage and peppers, Lucy's is unusually (and pleasingly) massive, almost heavy. The sausage, which comes from Frank & Sal's in Brooklyn, is the best I've ever tasted.

Packed loosely and specked liberally with chunky bits of pork fat and fennel seeds, these links are divinely devourable, cooked medium-rare (at my request), and toppled with a zesty mix of griddled onions and peppers. It just doesn't get any better than this...until you talk about the bread. I'm not sure from whom, or what paranormal being, Lucy's gets their bread, but it is the best italian roll I've ever sunk my teeth into. Textured and coarse on the oustide, yet supple and baby's-bottom soft on the inside, this dynamic roll brings this $6 cradle of culinary greatness full circle.

Man does that make me nervous.

The Feast of San Gennaro Official Website

NOTE: I will be returning to the Feast 2 more times this weekend. Should anyone like to join me in pounding some of this pork-packed perfection, let me know!